Taxi Driver Online

Taxi drivers react furiously to collar and tie dress code


Community councillor has provoked anger in the Moray taxi community.


A taxi drivers’ leader has reacted furiously to suggestions that they should help smarten up Elgin’s image by wearing a shirt and tie.

Elgin Community Council’s spokesman on road and transport issues, George Littlejohn, has provoked fury from local cabbies by suggesting the move along with a raft of other measures.

The community council launched a joint bid to clean up the town with Elgin BID, Moray Council, Grampian Police and local schools.

However, angry drivers have said that the move could pose a “danger to their well-being”, with one tie-wearing driver already having been injured in an attack by a passenger.

Chairman of the Moray Association of Taxi Operators, Iain Emslie, said: "About four or five years ago one of my drivers was driving from Elgin to Buckie and he had his tie grabbed by a passenger in the back - the car swerved off the road and crashed.

"I don't have a problem with collars and ties from a style point of view, because they do look good and sometimes when you see the state of some cabbies you think 'smarten up' - but it's just the safety aspect that I don't agree with.”

Mr Emslie, who runs A2B cars in Elgin and Grant’s Taxis in Buckie, said that he can see no reason why he should ask his drivers to change from the company polo shirts they currently wear. He added: “I think they look smart enough, so I don't see why things have to change.

"I've been involved in the taxi business for 18 years and I've had my own companies for about ten years, I've never had a complaint from a customer about the appearance of a driver.

"I just think the move is completely over the top. I understand they want to improve the image of Elgin, but it's just a step too far.”

Mr Emslie, who lives in Lhanbryde, added that he did appreciate the need to spruce up the town centre – but said he was also concerned over the costs of proposed changes, which include new regulation signs on top of taxis used in Elgin.

He said: "The other plan is to regulate all the signs on top of the taxis in Elgin, to make them the same size and shape.

"But if that happens not only will it make it hard for people to distinguish different taxi companies but who's going to pay for all that? If you've got 12 to 14 taxis in your ranks, that's a lot of money.”

Moray Councillors are expected to debate the proposals later this year.

http://local.stv.tv/elgin/news/189688-t ... ress-code/

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

I take it that clip on ties are not to be found in Elgin.

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Grandad,

Think you'd be lucky to find a fare in Elgin.

Many of the Drivers around here, wear their Ties around their waist, to keep their trousers up!

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Don't dream it ~ Be it.

I think a collar and tie dress code is a great idea and should be adopted throughout the country.

In fact, I think taxi drivers (serfs) should refer to their customers as Master or My Lady.

A bit of forelock tugging wouldn't go amiss either, bloody peasants

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http://wingsoverscotland.com/ http://www.newsnetscotland.com/

I quite agree.

Personally, the next time I use a taxi. I'll be expecting the driver to lie down in the street, so I have something to wipe my feet on as I alight the vehicle.

Hope it's no me. Ah'd probably be accused o' lookin up yir trooser leg

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Skull, "You are a police inspector, aren't you?"
Cab Inspector Smith, "Yes."
Skull, "So, are you going to tell Mr Taylor what his rights are?"
Smith, "And ... What rights?"

Cant think that there would be any court in Scotland or the UK as a whole that would back a council in enforcing a dress code on those that don't wish to abide by one, people cant simply be forced to wear what they don't want to wear unless it becomes offensive to others.

There's common sense smartly dressed without having to wear a collar and Tie and besides, the punter will decide if they want Smart driver over scruffy driver at the rank.

Imagine the council getting away with telling pub staff how to dress, or any other licence holder. It's a joke.

The moral of this tale is that we have allowed councils to lord it over us for too long. we allow them to weild unlimited power. But it's power not accorded to them under the legislation.

We should tell them to get lost.

Licensing is to ensure public safety and, in taxi licensing, to set tariffs. we should be telling them to butt out of setting tariffs.

And no complaint should be allowed from the public unless it is specifically related to public safety. Anything else should be a simple commercial matter between supplier and customer.

And any matter between a taxi driver and a third party, unrelated to the service being provided, should entirely be a matter for recourse under normal criminal or civil law.

Unless and until councils can define what a fit and proper person is, then it is unacceptable to use the term in any deliberation about a cabby.

This would be true justice, not the kangaroo justice we have today.

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Skull, "You are a police inspector, aren't you?"
Cab Inspector Smith, "Yes."
Skull, "So, are you going to tell Mr Taylor what his rights are?"
Smith, "And ... What rights?"

How about a fancy dress code?

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

Aye they could dress up as businessmen.

Ive seen the Touristy Hotel Cars fancy dress crew picking up at Edinburgh airport...When they climb out their cars its like Butcher meat falling out the arse of a torn Tartan carrier bag..

Or they could shave their heads, draw a black line on top and look like assholes.......................just like you and your buddy do

Moray taxi drivers seeking apology in dress-code row



MAKING A POINT: Willie Duncan stages his protest in the New York taxi driver costume. David Whittaker-Smith


Taxi drivers are demanding an apology from an Elgin community councillor after he made comments about their appearance.

George Littlejohn said jeans and the smell of cigarettes in taxis did not give “a positive ambience” to visitors to the town.

Mr Littlejohn was striving to bring in a dress code to smarten up the image of the town centre but his comments have left many cabbies angry.

http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2938345

_________________
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin